Balsamic Vinegar and Chocolate Cookies

I am almost as crazy about balsamic vinegar as I am about chocolate.

Ok, I’m lying, but I AM crazy about balsamic vineger too, and ran across this absolutely scrumptious looking recipe for Balsalmic Fudge Drops, from a gorgeous site, Habeas Brulee. These cookies are easy to stir up and quick cooking - and I am making them this afternoon. I will let you know how it goes.

Balsamic Fudge Drops
1 C all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
5 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 C plus 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)
2/3 C granulated sugar
1/3 C dark brown sugar
1/3 C low-fat plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Vanilla sugar and/or crunchy salt for dusting

Preheat your oven to 350º.

Whisk the flour, salt, and baking soda together, and set aside.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan. When it is all melted and sizzling, remove from heat and stir in the cocoa powder, and then both sugars. And then the yogurt, vanilla, and balsamic vinegar. Once that is mixed together nicely, add the flour mixture and stir it just until it is fully incorporated, trying not to overmix.

Measure out tablespoons of the dough about 1 1/2? apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle vanilla sugar and/or a crunchy sea salt on top.

Bake for about 11 minutes, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through.

When the cookies come out, they will look somewhat crackled on top, and terrifyingly soft. You will probably be convinced they are not yet done. Take them out anyway. Slide the parchment paper with the cookies onto a rack to cool - the cookies will harden as they cool, and then you will be able to remove them from the parchment paper.

Back at Habeus Brulee, she has a few tips about her balsamic vinegar and the vanilla sugar she uses, so please go check it out before you make these cookies. And then come back and tell me how they were - I know they are gonna be fan.tas.tic.